Cornell University has announced that it is suspending parties and other social gatherings at fraternity houses for the rest of the academic year amid intensifying backlash over its handling of allegations that a female student was sexually assaulted at a fraternity house in 2024.
The university has also said that Cornell will involve New York state police in investigating sex crimes on campus.
Michael Kotlikoff, Cornell’s president, announced the measures on Tuesday.
The suspension of all parties and social gatherings at houses governed by Cornell’s interfraternity council is meant to be in effect through the end of the academic year ending in the spring of 2027 – and it is subject to a “zero tolerance” policy that would lead to the immediate emergency suspension of any chapter found to be in violation, Kotlikoff said.
“These measures will provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue,” Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the campus community.
Kotlikoff also committed to adding a case manager to Cornell’s office of civil rights to help those who report sexual misconduct at the Ivy League institution navigate the processes. Kotlikoff also pledged to work with the New York state police to allow their trauma-informed criminal investigators – who are independent of Cornell University – to investigate allegations.
Such allegations otherwise have been handled by Cornell’s campus police force.
A civil lawsuit filed in September by a woman identified by the pseudonym of Jane Doe alleges that several men assaulted her at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house after she went there in an intoxicated state looking for a friend.
Two of the accused men were subsequently expelled after an internal investigation by Cornell – while others were allowed to resume their studies after writing an essay, attending a workshop or serving a short suspension.
None were ever arrested or charged by local authorities, and disgust over the treatment of the alleged offenders grew when the woman’s lawsuit was made public.
Kathy Hochul, New York’s governor, on 2 October announced that she was appointing Letitia James, the state’s attorney general, to take over Jane Doe’s case as a special prosecutor.
If warranted, James would present evidence to a grand jury that could lead to criminal charges, Hochul said.
Two of the men named in Jane Doe’s lawsuit have challenged James’s appointment. Hochul said James’s appointment is necessary because local police and prosecutors who were obligated to protect Jane Doe “failed” her.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html